The performance of most bus services is critically affected by local highway authorities’ policies on traffic management, parking and road network development.

Enlightened authorities encourage use of public transport, provide levels of support for subsidised bus services and concessionary travel beyond statutory minimum levels, invest in bus service infrastructure and promote public transport.

This Award is made to an authority that is prepared to implement measures to improve bus service reliability and the safety, security and attractiveness of the bus-based journey, ensures key bus routes are kept clear of un-controlled parking, servicing and other obstructions and has parking management and pricing policies that help maintain the competitiveness of buses with cars.

The Winner for 2010: Nottingham City Council

Nottingham has a proven track record of innovative working with its progressive local bus operators to deliver consistent improvements over the past ten years.

Patronage, satisfaction, punctuality and journey times are all improving. Its long running voluntary approach has now been supplemented by a statutory partnership in the City Centre, the first of its kind in the Country, backed by its own enforcement process.

The council now has full approval to introduce a levy on workplace parking, to improve congestion and give a sustainable source of independent funding to continue bus investment as set out in its agreed 10 year vision. The city was recently named by the Campaign for Better Transport as Britain’s least car-dependent city.

The judges were impressed that, yet again, success had been achieved through strong partnership with local bus companies who were also delivering quality services, and that the Council had been prepared to be strong politically in defending its environmental policies against the inevitable criticism from the car lobby.